The Steakhouse in Rancho Mirage has received a Four Diamond Award for the first time from the Automobile Club of Southern California. The Steakhouse restaurant at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage on Monday, February 4, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The Steakhouse in Rancho Mirage has received a Four Diamond Award for the first time from the Automobile Club of Southern California. The Steakhouse restaurant at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage on Monday, February 4, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Cielo has again been rated a Four Diamond Award restaurant by the Automobile Club of Southern California. Manager Robert Volpe, and chef de cusine Damian Stanley stand in the dining room of Cielo at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. (Courtesy of Morongo)

Napa Rose has again been rated a AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant. Chef Andrew Sutton is seen here in the restaurant. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The kitchen staff at Napa Rose restaurant at the Disneyland Resort practice making funnels out of parchment paper.The restaurant has again been rated a AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Cellar Restaurant & Spirit Room has again been rated a AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant. Restaurant owner Ryan Dudley, shown at The Cellar located in the basement of the historic Villa del Sol in Fullerton on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. Dudley also owns the restaurant Hidalgo, also located in the Villa del Sol. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

“Attaining the AAA Five Diamond rating is an impressive accomplishment,” said Patty Marenco, manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California’s Approved Accommodations program which inspects and approves hotels and restaurants. “Guests want to be wowed on multiple levels, so exceptional service is also important but they’re not necessarily looking for all the formalities that were once synonymous with fine dining.”

To earn this distinction a restaurant must “consistently provide leading-edge cuisine of the finest ingredients, uniquely prepared by an acclaimed chef and served by expert service staff in extraordinary surroundings.”

Locally, The Belvedere restaurant in The Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel was the only recipient of the Five Diamond award. It was first rated in 1995.

Anne Valdespino never intended to be an editor. She’s just another writer who took a wrong turn. Nevertheless, she has happily spent the last few years editing features in food, travel, Home and Garden and OCHOME magazine. A former editor at the Los Angeles Times and Orange Coast magazine, Anne started out as an entertainment reporter at The Orange County Register and recently returned to writing. She has come full circle, covering food and other lifestyle topics, and is back where she belongs.